Investigation into the Possibility of Fabricating Boraluminum Rolling of Increased Strength without Homogenization and Quenching

Abstract

Aluminum alloys of the Al–Cu–Mn (Zr) system possess high strength and manufacturability without heat treatment (HT). In order to investigate the possibility of fabricating an aluminum boron-containing alloy in the form of sheet rolling with increased strength without the HT, Al–2% Cu–1.5% Mn–2% B and Al–2% Cu–1.5% Mn–0.4% Zr–2% B alloys are prepared. To exclude the deposition of refractory boride particles, smelting is performed in a RELTEK induction furnace providing intense melt stirring. The smelting temperature is 950–1000°C. Pouring is performed into 40 × 120 × 200 mm graphite molds. It is established using computational methods (Thermo-Calc) that manganese forms complex borides with aluminum and zirconium at the smelting temperature and a sufficient amount of manganese remains in liquid, while zirconium is almost absent in it. The formation of AlB2Mn2 complex boride is proved experimentally (scanning electron microscopy and micro X-ray spectral analysis), but the amount of manganese remaining in the solid solution is sufficient to form particles of the Al20Cu2Mn3 phase in an amount reaching 7 wt %. Boron in the zirconium-containing alloy stimulates the isolation of primary crystals Al3Zr, in connection with which an insufficient amount of zirconium remains in the aluminum solid solution for strengthening. The possibility of fabricating thin-sheet rolling smaller than 0.3 mm in thickness with uniformly distributed agglomerations of the boride phase with a particle size smaller than 10 µm is shown. A high level of strength (up to 543 MPa) is attained with no use of quenching or aging due to the isolation of dispersoids of the Al20Cu2Mn3 phase during hot deformation (t = 450°C).